Lokpal Bill unlikely to be passed in Budget Session

New Delhi, May 21: It seems the much talked about Lokpal Bill is not going to be passed in the Parliament's Budget session, which is set to conclude tomorrow. However, the storm over one of the most debatable bills the nation's parliamentary politics has seen, continues.

The Bill came up in the Upper House on Monday evening. Minister of state in the PMO V Narayanasamy said several of the debatable issues in the Bill have been addressed and requested the House to pass it.

Naresh Agarwal of the Samajwadi Party immediately moved an amendment to the motion suggesting that the Bill be sent to a 15-member select committee of the House, which would give its report to the House within a span of three months. The BJP, however, challenged the move.

Earlier in the day, the government spoke to BJP and the Left parties proposing a number of amendments. However, differences over the role of the CBI and the creation of a Lokayuktas still exists. The government said that the Bill be amended to give states the right to pass the bill, which would pacify some of the opposing chief ministers. But the BJP said such an amendment would be unconstitutional.